RAF QRA through the years. Hurricane finished 24/06, page 9.

[DaveJL]

More done on the Spitfire over the weekend. Cockpit parts all sprayed:

 

 

Cockpit itself. Once everything was painted I gave it a very light wash to highlight some of the details. Tamiya also provide decals for the IP, which went on very well.The overall level of detail put into the cockpit by Tamiya is fantastic:

 

 

 

Inner wings with .303s and wheel wells added:

 

 

Wings finished:

 

 

Cockpit and fuselage closed up, with stabilisers added:

 

 

Fuselage and wings together:

 

 

Only a small bit of sanding will be needed to clean up the seam line at the fuselage join. This kit so far has been an absolute dream to build, I can't rate it highly enough. Tamiya really have raised the bar with their recent releases. This is up there with their F-14 as the best kit I've built (so far)

 

More soon.

 

Dave

[DaveJL]

More done over the last 2 evenings. Seam line cleaned up, rudder, tail wheel, antenna and a few other bits added. A gem of a kit of a beautiful machine:

 

 

Few more bits to add then it will be ready for the painting process.

 

Dave

[DaveJL]

Most of the construction on the Spitfire is now complete. This kit is just excellent.

 

 

The main landing gear is all one part with both legs connected by a central part which is in turn covered by separate panels. The fit is perfect. A few small bits to add before masking everything up.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

[Duncan B]

Great idea for a project but you have to have a Javelin in there too

 

Duncan B

[DaveJL]

Just now, Duncan B said:

Great idea for a project but you have to have a Javelin in there too

 

Duncan B

Thanks Duncan.

 

Yes, there's been quite a few votes for a Javelin!

[Duncan B]

1 minute ago, DaveJL said:

Thanks Duncan.

 

Yes, there's been quite a few votes for a Javelin!

Of course. First aircraft I can remember seeing/hearing. The Airfix 1/48 kit is a great build.

As for paints I can recommend Colourcoats and Hataka for good matches to the RAF colours (which I always seemed to have trouble getting acceptable matches for). Xtracrylics I just could not get to stick to my kits!

 

Duncan B

[DaveJL]

Just now, Duncan B said:

Of course. First aircraft I can remember seeing/hearing. The Airfix 1/48 kit is a great build.

As for paints I can recommend Colourcoats and Hataka for good matches to the RAF colours (which I always seemed to have trouble getting acceptable matches for). Xtracrylics I just could not get to stick to my kits!

 

Duncan B

I may add a few more but we'll see!

 

Thanks for the paint recommendations. I picked up a Mig set for the Spitfire so hopefully those shades are good enough! Are the Hataka paints airbrush ready or do they need thinning?

[Duncan B]

14 hours ago, DaveJL said:

I may add a few more but we'll see!

 

Thanks for the paint recommendations. I picked up a Mig set for the Spitfire so hopefully those shades are good enough! Are the Hataka paints airbrush ready or do they need thinning?

They have different types, both lacquer based and water based. I have used the water based and thin them with Hataka's own thinners. I would like to try their Lacquer based ones at some point to see if they thin with Mr Thinner.

 

Duncan B

[DaveJL]

3 hours ago, Duncan B said:

They have different types, both lacquer based and water based. I have used the water based and thin them with Hataka's own thinners. I would like to try their Lacquer based ones at some point to see if they thin with Mr Thinner.

 

Duncan B

Thanks Duncan. I'll maybe pick up a few and experiment with them along with the Xtracrylics.

[DaveJL]

More done on the Spitfire. Windshield went on a few days ago along with the kit provided masks. Cockpit and landing gear masked up then the kit was given a coat of Tamiya primer:

 

 

Paint mask and paints:

 

 

Decided to go with the brown to start. This is my first time using Mig paints and the brown went on very nicely indeed:

 

 

Spinner and exhaust stacks painted:

 

 

For those in the know, would the spinner have much weathering about it? Don't want to go overboard.

 

Will get the green on tomorrow.

 

Dave

[Fulcrum Guy]

Mig's RAF set is amazing, see my RFI for Revell's Mk.IIa. I'll definitely be going back to them for other colour sets

[DaveJL]

1 hour ago, Fulcrum Guy said:

Mig's RAF set is amazing, see my RFI for Revell's Mk.IIa. I'll definitely be going back to them for other colour sets

I might have to look at some of their other colours for the jets. Very impressed with them. Nice build too mate!

 

EDIT: I've just done a test spray and the green looks a little too light to my eyes? Might have to try some Tamiya XF-81.

[DaveJL]

Up early this morning for a run with the dog so thought I may as well crack on with the spit. I sprayed on the green - I went for Tamiya XF-81 in the end as the Mig colour looked a touch too bright. The AML vinyl masks were very good to work with. Once that had cured, I sprayed the sky on the undersides. Left for a few hours then added some paint chipping on the wings and around the cockpit before popping on the exhausts and landing gear doors. Finally, a top coat of MRP gloss went on:

 

 

A question on the decals if I may; Xtradecal show this machine with small roundels on the undersides, right at the edge:

 

 

I can't seem to find many pictures, certainly no clear ones. Would this Spitfire have carried these in late summer 1940? The two wartime options in the Kit do not have any roundels on the undersides.

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[DaveJL]

Decals on. I had an issue with the Xtradecal tail markings, so had to use the Tamiya ones; they're not 100% for this airframe but will have to suffice. Micro set was used on a few to get them to settle properly.

 

 

Will seal them all in with a clear coat and leave for a few days. In the meantime, I found a nice shot of X4474:

 

Net photo.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

[DaveJL]

Nearly there on the Spit. Panel wash on, some weathering added, spinner fitted and all sealed with a flat coat (MRP).

 

 

Had a few dramas with the fuselage roundels - they peeled off, even after having a top coat over them. So had to fit replacements. Canopy went on last so only a couple more little bits to do then that's part one of this build saga complete!

 

On a side note I've just watched the Spitfire documentary film on Amazon Prime. What a great show, highly recommend it if you haven't already seen it!

 

More soon.

 

Dave

[DaveJL]

No work on the Spitfire today, but unboxed the EE Lightning as the next participant:

 

 

Sprues:

 

 

I'm quite amazed at the size of the thing, had no idea it was this big:

 

 

Quick reminder of the extras:

 

 

Should hopefully get a little bit done around work this week. I'm off to London for a few days at the end of the week and will be visiting both IWM Duxford and Hendon whilst I'm there so will get a good look at the jets they have on display that I'm replicating in this thread.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

[bar side]

I remember opening the Airfix 1/48 Lightning after making a Hunter and being surprised at its size.  Trying to remember the kit challenges.  I think it was the front wheel well that was not ideal but it builds to look like a Lightning

[DaveJL]

28 minutes ago, bar side said:

I remember opening the Airfix 1/48 Lightning after making a Hunter and being surprised at its size.  Trying to remember the kit challenges.  I think it was the front wheel well that was not ideal but it builds to look like a Lightning

It is surprisingly big! I'll take care around the wheel well.

 

Cheers!

[Nikolay Polyakov]

Great start with a Spitfire, Dave!  Looking forward for your Lightning build - I love Lightnings!

[mackem01]

That's  you tied up for the next year or so! Looking forward to your progress reports. Good luck.

[DaveJL]

Thanks chaps. Progress on the Spitfire was nice and quick, I imagine it will slow down a bit now!

 

Might be a couple more kits added  

[NealParkes]

This looks like it is going be a good thread to follow! So i’m joining in, good luck withe builds. Your spit is looking really nice so far.

[DaveJL]

20 minutes ago, NealParkes said:

This looks like it is going be a good thread to follow! So i’m joining in, good luck withe builds. Your spit is looking really nice so far.

Thanks mate. I’m quite happy with the Spit. It’s my first in many years and first in 1/48. I’ve another Tamiya kit and an Eduard MK. IX added to the stash.

[DaveJL]

No progress to show having spent last weekend in Duxford/London, I was able to get a good look around some of the machines I'm depicting here. One thing that struck me was then sheer size of the Javelin at Duxford. So without further ado; Airfix 1/48 Javelin in the markings of 25 Squadron (XH909) in 1961:

 

 

Not much aftermarket, just a set of Neomega seats, a Montex mask and decals, kindly provided by @Arniec.

 

Decals and paint scheme:

 

 

I thought to myself; why not add a Hurricane too? .... Airfix 1/48 Kit in the markings of 17 Squadron (N2359) in June 1940:

 

 

CMK seat, AML mask and Skys decals is all the aftermarket that will be used here.

 

Decals and paint scheme:

 

 

There will be more additions in the near future ... guesses on a postcard!

 

Won't get much done over the next week or so due to work.

 

Dave

[DaveJL]

Hot on the heels of the Javelin and Hurricane being added, I was finally able to finish and photograph the Spitfire today.

 

 

Base is from Coastal kits and really sets the kit off on display. I'm pleased with how the Spit turned out and glad I finally have a 1/48 example in my collection (heck of a lot better than the old 1/72 kits I built years and years ago!). 

 

More pictures in RFI here.

 

That's part one of this project completed. Progress on the Lightning to follow.

 

Thanks to all who have commented/followed so far.

 

Dave